Solutions

Get detailed explanations to advanced GMAT questions.

Question

Not only did the systematic clearing of forests in the United States create farmland (especially in the Northeast) and gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it also caused erosion and very quickly deforested whole regions.

Option A:

Not only did the systematic clearing of forests in the United States create farmland (especially in the Northeast) and gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it also

Option B:

Not only did the systematic clearing of forests in the United States create farmland (especially in the Northeast), which gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but also

Option C:

The systematic clearing of forests in the United States, creating farmland (especially in the Northeast) and giving consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but also

Option D:

The systematic clearing of forests in the United States created farmland (especially in the Northeast) and gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it also

Option E:

The systematic clearing of forests in the United States not only created farmland (especially in the Northeast), giving consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it

Difficulty Level

Hard

Solution

Option D is the correct answer

Option Analysis

Concept tested: Idioms usage, Meaning

A) The idiom is collapsed; “Not only… but IT also..”

B) The right idiom is used. However, we use the idiom “Not only X but also Y” when we are talking about X and Y in the same direction. This sentence has two actions that are controversial to each other and hence using this idiom would be inappropriate.

C) Sentence fragment due to the verbs “Creating” and “Giving”

D) Correct Answer

E) Same as B.